Sitka in Sitka Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
American Flag Raising Site
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 1, 2021
1. American Flag Raising Site Marker
Registered National
Historic Landmark
under the provisions of the
Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935
This site possesses exceptional value
in commemorating and illustrating
the history of the United States
U. S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1963
Erected 1963 by National Park Service.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Landmarks. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 18, 1867.
Location. 57° 2.925′ N, 135° 20.299′ W. Marker is in Sitka, Alaska, in Sitka Borough. Marker is atop Castle Hill in Baranof Castle State Historic Site. It can be reached via a stairway from Lincoln Street or an accessible but steep paved path from Harbor Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sitka AK 99835, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Noow Tlein (here, next to this marker); History of Castle Hill (-1804) (a few steps from this marker); Men of the Hill (a few steps from this marker); American Sitka (a few steps from this marker); Ladies of the Hill
this page online
Regarding American Flag Raising Site. From the National Park Service:
The American Flag Raising Site (Castle Hill) in Sitka is significant as the location of the formal transfer of Russian America to the United States on October 18, 1867. This marked the Nation's first expansion into non-contiguous territory. The site is also important as the seat of the Russian-American Company in Alaska ca. 1806-1867 and as the place where the first official raising of the forty-nine star national flag in Alaska occurred.
In 1804, Alexander Baranov, the first governor of Russian-America, launched an attack on Castle Hill, in an effort to secure it from the Kiksadi clan of the Tlingits for a trading site. The Kiksadi had withdrawn from the Hill and after several days of unsuccessful negotiations a six-day battle ensued, which resulted in the Russians seizing and burning the Kiksadi’s fort. Russians occupied the Castle Hillsite from this time on, and, when the administrative headquarters of the Russian-American Company in Alaska transferred from Kodiak to Sitka about 1806, the location became the seat of government. It remained the seat of the Russian Government in Alaska until 1867.Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 1, 20212. American Flag Raising Site MarkerThis marker is on the rock post on the right.
On the afternoon of October 18, 1867, Brigadier General Lovell H. Rousseau, representing the United States, and Alexei Pestchouroff, Commissioner of the Tsar, met near the foot of the flagstaff in front of the Governor's House on Castle Hill. Detachments of American and Russian troops were drawn up on the parapet next to the building. The Russian flag was lowered; the United States was raised; and a brief exchange of statements completed the formal transfer of an area as large as Sweden, Finland, and Denmark combined.
October 18 is known as Alaska Day. While it is an official day of celebration, the Tlingits consider it a day of loss of their homeland — holding a mourning ceremony at the base of the hill while a re-enactment of the transfer ceremony takes place on the hilltop. As a result, organizers have rebranded Sitka's Alaska Day celebration as Reconciliation Day.
Also see . . . Castle Hill (Sitka, Alaska). Wikipedia entry on the notable hill. (Submitted on September 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Photographed By Larry Gertner
3. American Flag Raising Site
National Register of Historic Places: Digital Archive on NPGallery website entry
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Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 266 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 8, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on September 9, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
